Four EU project agreements worth HRK 135 mn in Zadar presented

Zadar (Photo credit: Sangia)

ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) – Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Monday presented Zadar Mayor Branko Dukic with four agreements for EU projects worth HRK 135 million, noting that Zadar had shown to be one of the most efficient cities as far as absorbing EU funds was concerned.

The agreements are for grants for the first stage of construction of infrastructure at the Crno business zone and for a project for the development and implementation of an intelligent traffic system and road reconstruction in the city.

The grants under the other two projects are intended for the University of Zadar – for the reconstruction of the old Technical School, and for the Marine Archaeology Centre and its project to reconstruct the St. Nicholas Church and monastery.

Plenkovic underlined that during the term of his government, Zadar and Zadar County had signed contracts for EU projects worth HRK 2.6 billion.

The ITU mechanism has ensured €345 million for Croatia, he said and emphasised that Zadar had shown the greatest degree of efficiency in absorbing EU funds.

“With the four projects signed today we’ve covered all the areas that are most important to us and that is transport, which improves the quality of life, followed by education because apart from being an important trade and tourism giant, Zadar is also a university and education centre,” Plenkovic said, adding that the agreements also cover the area of culture, seeing that Zadar is one of Croatia’s most important historical towns, as well as entrepreneurship. 

Asked by reporters if investments and projects have stopped, Plenkovic said that they have not stopped, as Minister Marko Pavic has explained on several occasions.

Reporters asked Plenkovic why he was withholding money from disabled persons, to which he said that “disabled persons will not be left without disability allowances. (Labour) Minister (Josip) Aladrovic and (Social Policy) Minister (Vesna) Bedekovic have explained what that is about. That is money that is paid if a disabled person is not employed and they know very well that that money has not been withheld,” said Plenkovic.